Egrets!

This week, I'm participating in World Bird Wednesday







I've had two beautiful mornings perfect for photographing egrets. I was at the harbor early, the tide was out, the egrets were fishing and the light was PERFECT! I find egrets to be one of the most challenging birds to photograph because they usually keep their distance and, being bright white, they're often overexposed. The morning light was working in my favor this time.

Field of Gold

More From the Hummingbird Sanctuary

Rather than post a ton of individual photos here, I've put together a slideshow that I hope you'll enjoy. These are the latest images from the hummingbird sanctuary. You can view the images in full screen mode by clicking the icon at the lower right corner of the slideshow window.

A Sanctuary

Today I made my first visit to the Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary here on Long Island. The sanctuary, located on the north shore bluffs of the island overlooking the Long Island Sound, is privately owned by a neurobiology professor from Stony Brook University. The sanctuary is located on a 3 acre parcel of land he purchased on the bluffs about 20 years ago.  He shared with us that he'd not seen a hummingbird on Long Island prior to owning the property. But, they have become a passionate hobby for him and over the years he has gardened to develop a habitat to attract these little beauties. He opens his sanctuary to the public during August as weather allows in order to share this beautiful place, his gardens, and the birds that visit with nature lovers and photographers.

I had come to the conclusion that there were no hummingbirds on Long Island, but since moving here I had stumbled on information about the sanctuary online. I'm so glad some little spark of memory nudged me to look it up again last week and then plan for a visit.









It probably goes without saying that I will be trying to visit as often as I can over the rest of the month. Hopefully, even tomorrow....

Street Shots

I've admitted to my newly found interest in iPhone photography.  It's such a different creative experience from traditional photography.  While my dslr and nature photos will always be my first love, I'm finding the opportunity to explore a whole different world through my iPhone.

Street photography has never been a genre within my comfort zone.  I feel invasive pointing my camera at a stranger and I'm never quick enough to catch the shot.  But yesterday, in Manhattan, I tried my hand at a little stealth shooting.  While in the subway system, I tried turning my phone toward my potential subjects, while pretending I was doing on of a million other things one can do on a phone.  I'm still very nervous about photographing strangers.  But I love the raw "slice of life" images that can be created.



Got Kids...?



Settled In 'til The End Of The Line"

Egrets

A recent morning spent kayaking on the harbor.  So many birds (more pics to come).   I have never spotted a FLOCK of egrets within photo range.  It's a bit of a challenge shooting with a long lens from a little boat bobbing with the tide.  I wish I could have gotten just a hair closer.  I was pretty pleased with these three images.

The Meadow

A light breeze in the meadow and a shallow depth of field allowed me to create these images with varying degrees of abstraction. It was exactly what I set out to do!

Hope you like yellow....